Most of the time, aftermarket batteries are just fine, but sometimes they can be of inferior quality. There is a difference between name brand and so-called aftermarket batteries, which are not made or sanctioned by your laptop manufacturer.
There are a few things to be aware of when you’re looking for a laptop battery. But usually you can figure it out without the paperwork.
When in doubt, look up the owner’s manual for your laptop to find out how to remove the battery. Most of the time you’ll need a screwdriver to get it out, but sometimes it’s just a matter of sliding a lockbar to the side. Most batteries are underneath your computer, but sometimes it will slide out from the back or side.
Write it down and type it into Google along with the word “battery.” Click on shopping results, and from there you can sort by price and store.Īs I mentioned already, removing and re-installing your battery is going to be different depending on your particular computer.
If you don’t have your laptop model number written down somewhere, turn the laptop upside down and you’ll find the model and serial number there. This means three things: you have to find exactly the right battery for your laptop, it’s not going to be as cheap as Eveready AA’s, and the procedure for removing and installing your battery is different for virtually every laptop model. That means that batteries are not interchangeable between different brands and models of equipment, like they are with flashlights. The first thing to know is that your laptop battery is proprietary. Replacing your laptop battery is easy to do, and if you look around a bit you might find a great deal too. However, it’s much better to have a powerful battery or two that you can rely on during those times when other people have claimed every outlet in the coffee shop, but you still need to get that report typed. After all, what good is a portable computer if you have to find a working electrical outlet to use it? OK, it’s still some good. Laptops seem to be most useful when the battery is fully charged and you know it will last a good two hours or more.